Veneer joining edge staplers



4 Sheets- Sheet 1 mm o R. CJRYDBERG ETAL VENEER JOINING EDGE STAPLERS O l O i INVENTOR. RU DOLPH C. RYD B E R6 'ATTORNEYS 0 IO 0 O EMlL. HERMAN Jan. 21,1958

Filed April 5, 1956 Jan. 21, 19 R. c. RYDBERG ETAL 2,820,223

VENEER JOINING EDGE STAPLERS 4. .sheets -sheet 2 Filed April s,- 1956 INVENTOR. RUDOLPH c. RYDBERG EMIL A. HERMAN ATTORNEYS rillfiliil W3 do n $m l w kw JNN mm a H. J

1958 R. c. RYDBERG ETAL VENEER JOINING EDGE STAPLERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April s, 1956 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY 5 The present invention relates to veneer edge joining staplers and more particularly to such devices which are adapted to join the edges of veneer in plywood manufacturing.

The primary object of the invention is to join the edges of veneer, both face and core stock, by stapling machines United Sta before the veneer stock-is fabricated into the plywood sheets.

A further object of this invention is the providing of means within the stapling machine wherein a series of staplers are automatically lined up with the joining edges These edges are not always parallel to 'of the veneer.

the transverse width of the veneer.

Another object of this invention is to control the operation of the stapling machines by photoelectric control system so that the stapling is performed when the edges of the veneer are in proper position to be joined. A photoelectric cell also controls the movement of the veneer through the stapling machine while the stapling is being performed.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent in in the light of 2,820,223 Patented Jam -21,1958

assembly, taken on the hue 1313 of Figure 8, looking -in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view, taken through the stapling assembly adjacent the photoelectric cells, on the line 1414 of Figurel, looking in the direction of the arrows. 9

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan sectional view, taken on theline 15-15 of Figure 12, looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Figure 16 is a diagrammatical layout of the feed rollers stapling the wire, diagram of the photoelectric cells and their amplifiers, including the various relays required in the operation of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference character. A refers to a stapling assembly. Veneer feeding or conveying belts B and the veneer receiving'ordelivery conveyor C are disposed adjacent the assembly A. i

' Referringto Figures 1and'4, the veneerfeeding conveyor assembly B consists of a pluralityofjspaced parallel parallel to their center lines, therefore when they are fed between the belts 20A and 21A the workmen pick various shaped sheets 22L from supply piles matching them so that when their edges are joined together they will make :a continuous relatively straight sheet. In Figures 9 and 10, we illustrate the sheets of veneer 221. and 228 whose edges are not parallel to their center line, and we have exaggerated this condition in order to more conveniently illustrate the principle of the invention.

The belts 21A are operated by a driving chain 23 and are .driven at the usual normal speed (from 30 to 40 feet per minute). The belts 21B are driven somewhat faster by a chain 24. The object of driving the belts bly A from the others being brought in on the conveyor Figure 4 is an end elevation of the stapling assembly,

including a side view of the feed conveyors and the feed rollers for moving the veneer underneath the stapling assembly.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged lateral cross-section, 1

taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged portion similar to Figure 5 illustrating the progression of the veneer into the mecha- Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, the same as Figure 9,

except that the stapling assembly has been aligned with the edges of the veneer to be stapled together. Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken along the line 11-41 of Figure 1,

looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse secassembly B, conveying the same into the assembly A and stapling the same before the following sheets 22L are delivered to the conveyor assembly BB, giving time to complete the stapling operation.

, A pair of upper and lower rollers 25 and 26 are adapted to move the veneer 22S away from the stapling assembly A onto the delivery conveyor belts C after the stapling has been completed. The roller 25 is driven by a motor 27 coupled by a chain 28. The rollers 25 and 26 are preferably geared together, by suitable means not shown, so that they will operate in unison.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3 particularly, the stapling assembly A consists of a lower inverted channel beam 29 running transversely of the machine and mounted upon a tubular king pin 30. The king pin 30 is fixedly secured to the beam 29 at 30A and extends downwardly into a hollow pedestal 31, its lower end resting on the thrust bearing 32 and its body portion being journalled within the bearings 33 located within the pedestal top and bottom. The pedestal 31 is fixedly secured and mounted on the base frame 34 at 35 providing a solid foundation for supporting the stapling assembly A.

Disposed above the beam 29 is a secondary transverse beam 36 consisting of a channel member. This beam is supported on the beam 29 by adjustable spacer bolts 37,

referring particularly to Figures 8 and 13,' Thebhllt'sdl are adapted tosuppofltheheam 36 upon the beam 29' e l a r ulate he. pa n be ween the hear s 9 and 36. The spacer bolts 37' have reverse threads thereon adapted to move the beams136 and 29 towards or away from one another when rotated.

Located within the kingpin 30 is a photoelectriccell 38 and located directly above this cell. is an exciter lamp 39. The light from the lamp 39zis adapted. to pass through an opening 40 in the lower pantof the beam 36. and an .opening 41 in the upper part of the beam 29. at all times, except when a piece of veneer 225 blocks its path, which will be fully described later on.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 3 and l4, photoelectric cells 42 are located in spaced relation throughout he. l ng h 9 t eam 2 .I t s dranins el i strate four of these cells 42. Corresponding thereto are the exeiter lamps 43, which aremounted within the transverse upper beam36. Theexcitcr ray 44- ofeach of the lamps 43 is adapted to passlthroughone of the openings 45 of the upper beam 36 andthroughpneof theopenings 46 of the lower beam. 29 until the edges .ofthe: veneer 22L to be stapled together come together. The rays-4A are broken when the edges of the veneer ZZLdQ .come together, which will e moreiully. describedlater.

StaplersS of cor ventionaLdesign rarer-mountedthroughout the'length of the beam 36 inllaterally spacedrelatibn. We have, illustrated six of these staplers .S. The lower .endsportions of drivers 47 of the staplers; S pass down. through the openings. 48in the lower sidev36'A of the beam 36, asbest illustrated 'in,.Figure 11. The drivers 47 align with the center line of. the beams, 29. and 36 throughout their length. The conventional staple 49 is formed by the stap'lerS from the supply roll of'wire 50.

The staplers S areoperated in unison by a driveshaft 51 running longitudinally of' the stapling assembly A.

The shaft 51 is journalled to the supporting brackets 52 by the bearings 53. A gear 54, indicatedby dottedlines, is'keyed to the shaft 55 of each stapler S' and is adapted to be driven by the gear 56', which is keyed to the drive shaft 51. The top 57 oflthe lower beam 29'acts as an anvil for clinching the staples 49.

Referring particularly to Figures 5. 1, 6 and 7, two or more stapling assembly A aligning devices D are located withinthe upper transverse bea m 36. These devices D are adapted to align thestapling assembly A, including the staplers S, with the edges of the veneer 22L for stapling the edges68 and 69 together. Referring particularly to Figuresj and 6, these devices l includea vertical level-5 8; which is pivotally mounted to theglink 5 9-at 60..

The link 59 being in turn pivotally connccted'at'62 to the side 61- of the beam 36';

A specially shaped foot 63 is formed on thelower end of the lever 58 and is-adapted to be contacted-by the edge 68 of a veneer 22L being fed into the stapling assembly A. A spring 65 is connected'tothe link 59 at 6-2 at its one end and is arranged so that-its other end passes through the pivot pin 66 forrning partof theupper end of the lever 58; The tension of the-spring 65 being adjustable by the Wing nut-67.

When the edge 68 of the veneer sheet-22L contacts the forward edgeof the toe 72of'one of the feet 63h will tend to align the stapling assembly Ar about kingpin 30 throughout the width 'of the veneer sheet'ZZL until all of'the'feet 63*have contactedtheedgetSS. Thespring 59 offering sulficient resistancetothepositioning of the lever 58"frorn the position shown in Figure 5-- to that shown in Figure 6 to move the stapling assemblyA into alignment with the edge 68 of theveneer sheet 22L. This -will also correspond to the edge 69 ofthe veneersheet 22S adjacent thereto.

At-this point we wishto explain that when the veneer sheets 22L are placed-on the-conveyor B bytthe-worltmen, their edges- 68 and 69 will -be matched cve'nthoughthese edges 68and 69'"are at an angle to thetransverse directionso when the-two'pieces oiveneer zzhcorne :1. together within the stapling assembly A they will be in a i nment. th. ne an t er, the efo e i is. the. pumqs of the units D to contact the edges 68 of these veneer sheets 22L moving the stapling assembly A about king pin 30 until it aligns itself with the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 228 to be stapled together.

When the stapling assembly A has been aligned with the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S completely across the width of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S'..-the.spr-ings 590i the 'levers53will yield allowing the foot 63.10 move .to the position shown in Figure 6 where the heel 70 will ride up on the rear edge 69 of the veneer sheet-zzsraising .thetoe. 72 of the foot .63 above the forward edge 68 of the. sheet of veneer 22L, allowing the edges 68 of the sheet 22L to close against the edge 69 of the veneer sheet 228. This operation will be more fully described later on.

We will now describe how the staplers S are operated when the. edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22Sv are in alignment. Located approximately above the .king pin 39 is stapler S operating mechanism enclosed within the box 73 for rotating the shaft 51 for operating all of the staplers, S simultaneously with one another. power; mechanism consists ofv a solenoid 74, which 'is fixedly secured to the-case 7.3 by brackets 75. Within the solenoid 74 is a movable core 76. A pinion rack 77 isfixedly secured to oneend of the core 76, as indicated by dotted lines, its teeth 78 meshing with the teeth 79 of the pinion 80 rotatably mounted to the yshaftSl.

Keyedto-theshaftsl is a ratchet wheel 81. Pivotally connected to the pinion 80. is a pawl 82. The pawl 82 is adapted to-engage the teeth of. the ratchet wheel 81, :theratchet wheel 81 being keyedto the shaft 51 rotates the shaft 51. one complete revolution when the solenoid .74 is energized. The core 76 travelling in the direction of the arrow and-rotating the shaft 51 through the pinion rack 77, inthe direction ofthearrow.

When the solenoid 74 is deenergized the spring 83-will returnthe core '76 tothetpositionshown in the drawings, permitting the shaft 51 to remain stationary while the pawl 82 ratchets about the ratchet Wheel 81. The energizing of the solenoid 74-will bemore fully described later.

While ,we haveillustrated one-power unit for operating the shaft 51, as indicatedgby numeral 73in Figure 1, there could be additional units of this sort applied to the ma.- chine, as indicated by, the broken lines 73A.

WQjVY-llLHOW described howthe stapler S operates, rertinsnowrar 'cn r y t u 6. t e h t th variousfother views. After the veneer sheet ZZShas been stapled, its rear edge '69 is moved to the point shown in Figure lO by the action of the feed rollers 25 and 26. When the edge 69 reaches the point shown, referring to Figure 9, the rays between the exciter lamp39 and the photocell 38 will be permitted to come into action, energizing the amplifier 85, referring to Figure 16. This will deliver an electric current from the amplifier 85 through the conductors 86 to, vthe solenoid 87' of the relay 88. This will open the normally closed switch bar 89 stopping the motor 27 and applying the brake 90 against the tension of the spring 91 when the coil 92 is demagnetized. will stop the rotation of the feed rollers 25 and 26 instantly.

The amplifier 85 and the amplifier. 9.3 receive, their electricenergy from. the mainlines 94 through the conductors 95. When one of the veneer sheets 22L reaches the relatively fast moving conveyor BB it will be entered into the stapling assembly Abetweengthe top 57 of the transverse anvil beamv 29 and the underside 36Av of the upper cross beam 36,,theconvcyorrBB,willforcibly feed the veneer 22 L forward until itsvforwardedgesfl engages.-the; toei72;ofronetofq the. feet 63, as illustrated in Figureq6. The tension of the spring 65, asabovede' scribed will resist this movement,- thereby aligningitho ssasm stapling assembly A with the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S and, as illustrated in Figure 6, when they are approximately together the feet 63 will be kicked up out from between the edges 68 and 69 after which the conveyor BB will completely force the veneer sheet 22L against the rear edge 69 of the veneer sheet 225, as best illustrated in Figure 10.

When the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S come together they will break the beams 44, referring to Figures 14 and 16, between the exciter lamps 43 and the photocells 42, the following action will then take place, referring to Figure 16. There are a series of four photoelectric units throughout the length of the stapling assembly A. The exciter lamps 43 of these units receive their electrical supply from the main line 94 through the conductors 96. The photocells 42 are connected in parallel to the amplifier 93 through the conductors 97 and 98. When all of the exciter rays 44 are broken because of the meeting of the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 225 under the staplers o, the amplifier 93 will be deenergized.

When this happens the current being supplied from the amplifier 93 through the conductors 99 will cease to exist in the winding 100 within the relay coil 101 of the relay 102. This will permit the spring 103 to raise the core 104, closing the switch bar 105, which will deliver electrical energy through the conductors 106 from the main line 107 through the manual switch 108 into the solenoid 74, as can be seen in Figure 12, this will energize the solenoid 74 forcing the core 76 in the direction of the arrow causing the pinion rack 77 to rotate the shaft 51 a complete revolution. Until the rear edge 69 of the sheet of veneer 22S reaches the position shown in Figure 9, the solenoid 74 must be rendered inactive.

A cam 51A is located on the shaft 51 and on making one revolution, referring to Figures 12 and 16, it will strike the tip 109 of the bell crank 110 balanced between opposed tension springs 111 and 111A moving the tip 109 in the direction of the arrow until the cam 51A slips off the tip 109 of the bell crank lever 110. On moving it this distance it places a tension within the spring 111. When the cam 51A slips off the tip 109 the spring 111 will turn the bell crank 110 in the opposite direction of the arrow, the momentum of the weight 112 will move the contact arm 113 beyond the position shown in the drawings, causing it to contact the terminal 114 momentarily. The momentary contact of the contact arm 113 and the terminal 114 will instantaneously close an electric circuit through the conductor 115 from the conductor 95 through the relay winding 116 of the coil 101 of the relay 102. The circuit through the winding 116 of the coil 101 is of sufiicient duration to pull its core 104 against the spring 103 to latch'the lower end 117 under the latch 118. The latch 118 will be in the dotted position shown in Figure 16 after the stapling takes place, due to the fact that the foot 119 of the bell crank lever 120 is riding on the surface of the veneer sheet 22L adjacent the forward edge 68 thereof.

The bell crank 120 is pivotally mounted at 121 and is connected to the lever 118 by the link 122. When the rear edge 69 of the sheet of veneer 22S passes the foot 119 it will allow the foot 119 to drop down to the position shown, disconnecting the latch 118 from the lower end 117 of the core 104 of the relay 102. When this happens the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S have not as yet come together, therefore we do not wish to have the contact bar 105 close the circuit through the conductors 106 until the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S have come together. This will be prevented by the fact that the rays 44 of the photocells 42 have not been broken as yet and the amplifier 93 is still operating, causing the winding 100 to hold the core 104 in the position shown in the drawings against the spring 103, but as soon as these rays 44 are broken by' the veneer sheets 22L and. 22S coming tof gether, the amplifier 93 will be deactivated allowing the spring 103 to close the switch bar 105, operatingthe solenoid 74 and again rotating the shaft 51, stapling the veneer sheets 22L and 22S together, after which the latch 118 will again be latched, as above described, until it is time to again operate the staplers S.

The instant that the,rays 44 are broken by the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S coming together for stapling, the rays 38A of the photocell 38 will be broken. This will deactivate the amplifier 85, breaking the circuit through the lines 86 and through the solenoid 87 of 'therelay 88 allowing the spring 88A to close the switch bar 89 starting the motor 27 and releasing the brake 90. This will immediately move the veneer 228 on through the stapling assembly A onto the conveyor belts C as illustrated in Figure 1. When the front edge 68 of the next sheet of veneer 22L to be stapled to the sheet of veneer 22S reaches the point illustrated in Figures 10, 12 and 14, the motor 27 will again be stopped and the completion of the meeting of the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 228 to be stapled and aligning the stapling assembly A therewith and operating the staplers S, will begin.

This machine is adapted to staple pieces of veneer from 4 to 8' long. We have illustrated the 8' length being stapled, but in the event 4' lengths are to be stapled the stop 123, which is located along the edge of the conveyor belts 20 will be moved to the broken line position, referring to Figure l. The object of having at least four photoelectric units 42 is to be able to cover either 8' pieces or 4 pieces.

In the event 4' pieces are being stapled the outer end cells should be disconnected so that the two inner cells will operate. It only requires the one photocell 38 to stop the movement of the leading piece of veneer 22L under the stapling assembly A, as this cell is located directly over the king pin 30 so that it will always stop the veneer sheet 22L midway the width of the stapling assembly A.

Means are provided for spacing the transverse beam 36 and the lower beam or anvil 29 apart from one another so that a slight friction will be maintained against the movement of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S. This is accomplished by the double threaded set screws 37, referring particularly to Figures 8 and 13. A pointer 125 is affixed to the upper end of the screws 37 and indicates the amount of spacing between the feed upper and lower beams.

Referring to Figures 5, 7, 12 and 15, in order to avoid knot holes, or other objectional defects, 126, the feet 63 of the levers 58 are relatively wide, referring to Figure 7. This also applies to the foot 119 of the bell crank as illustrated in Figure 15.

Reviewing briefly the operation of the invention, the veneer sheets 22L are fed into the stapling assembly A aligning a series of photocells parallel and over the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S to be stapled together. When this aligning takes place these photocells are inactivated causing the staplers S to be operated by any suitable electrical means for rotating the staplers S one revolution. When this happens the veneer sheets 228 are pulled through from under the stapling assembly A by a set of power driven rollers governed by a photoelectric cell coming into action. The instance the edges 68 and 69 of the veneer sheets 22L and 22S come together they are stapled. These rollers will pull the completed stapled sheet of veneer 22S through to its trailing edge 69, and these rollers again will be stopped by photoelectric cells when it reaches a point directly under the center line of the stapling assembly A and staplers S, after which the stapling operation will take place as above described.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous strugamass ural nwdifi afioas. a dv adantatimis. may be resortedto vit aa i pantinsrfrenrhescope of th appended claims,

What 'l@ 1 1.i

r 31.111 plywoodlaminating macli'ine of the type in cluding; conveyors; tor-"conveying nnlaminated veneer panels toa"laminating'mechanism a veneer stapling device comprising an elongated" beam, means pivotally mounting said beam in s'aid staplingmachine to extend generally transversely-of said conveyors a plurality of veneen staplers secured" to said beam,- means on said beam-for'contactingthe-leading edge of said-veneer panel and pivotally adjustingsaid beam to align said beam withfthe joining edges oi the veneer, and means actuated by themovement of veneer throughsaid machine for operating: saidstaplers; i p 2.v Al'devicezasclaimediin claim lzwhereinthe means for operating said staplers: includesv ans-electric, solenoid and as control thereforwhich includes. a; plurality of photoelectric; cell. uni smounted onsaid beamand adapted to be..intereep1ed; bn saideveneerr anels,

3. A c e icea-as c aimedain; c aim. 21 wher in th means 8 pivotal y moun ing said eamin s id stapling ma hine cprnprisesa hollow pivot, and conveyor means for moving aid eneertpan sstmm said t plers, and. a controlfor said last named .QQHYeyor whichjincludes a photoelectric cell unit mounted injsaid hollow pivotandladapted to be intercepted by said veneer panels.

4. A device as claimed in claim.3 wherein the conveyor means for moving said veneer panels from said staplers comprises power.'driving means for rotating said lastnamed 'conveyort 5; An edge staplerfor plywood laminating machines comprising a plurality of aligned staplers secured to said stapling machine for lateral pivotal adjustment thereon, veneer contacting means on said machine for laterally adjusting said staplers on said stapling machine, and means including a plurality of photoelectric cells on said machine for-actuating said staplersto staple veneer panels on'said stapling machine.

No references cited. 

